Pooja Gor became a household name with the blockbuster daily soap, Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya in 2009. The show indeed created a storm with its progressive and relevant storyline and fantastic performances by the lead cast including Arhaan Behll and Anupam Shyam. Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya ended in 2012 and now, it has returned to television with a new season. Talking a 9 years leap, Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya 2 sees Pooja aka Pratigya as a practicing public prosecutor in Allahabad and a doting mother. 

Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya 2 went on air on March 15 and is winning the hearts of the audience. As the show is keeping fans engaged, Pooja, who plays the titular role, spoke to PeepingMoon about getting into the skin of Pratigya once again. The actress also shared the reason behind staying away from television for a long time and why Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya franchise is still relevant. 

Excerpts from the interview: 

Any inhibitions playing an older character?

No, I don’t have any inhibitions playing an older character. It is just the journey of the character. The beauty of being an actor is one can be of any age personally but play any role, age and character anytime. I don’t understand why people have qualms about playing an older character. I don’t have a problem playing a mother. The show takes a 9 years leap. In our personal lives, we do have families and kids, right. That’s called life, it is a natural progression. So why not? What’s so wrong in playing the age the character has evolved into? Mother is a role in itself that is so challenging. It gives you so many shades. There are way too many emotions at stake. It is a challenging one but very interesting.  

How did you prepare for the role?

I didn’t have to prepare much for the character. It is in my muscle memory. After 9 years, when they said 'action' for my first shot, it just flowed very easily. Pratigya will always be there in my blood. But, yes, playing a mother was new to me as I don't have kids in real life. I have a lot of nieces and nephews, saw my cousins and friends play the part in real life. I also observe how mothers of my on-screen children deal with their different moods. I take notes from how patiently and tactfully they handle their children. That helps me play the part convincingly. Now, that Pratigya is a practicing public prosecutor, I make sure that I’m well informed about the law, the penal codes that are applied to the case and different courts. I’m naturally curious about the Constitution of India and the law of the land.    

Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya 2 was ahead of its time. Do you feel the franchise will still be relevant?

Definitely. Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya was ahead of its time but it was relevant then and even today. It was beyond just entertainment. Yes, the first motive was to entertain the audience but it was also the only show that discussed taboo topics that people would either brush under the carpet, discuss in hush-hush tones or just not address them at all. Be it social or domestic issues, we never shied away from bringing them to the forefront and making them the hero of the story. That’s what we are doing with Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya 2. We discussed and brought up the bold, relevant topics this time again. We’ll be talking about the evidently present topics and issues of the society and weave them in the story for entertainment. 

Rumour has it that you’ll be a part of Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya 2 for a few episodes only. Is it true?

Not at all. We are a part of Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya 2 through and through. I don’t know where it has come from but it isn’t the case. 

After Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya, were you offered typical roles?

Yes, I was. It became more so after I did Savdhaan India. It’s natural because the makers and audience relate your face with a strong woman and character. They wanted me to play more strong characters so that it is more convenient and more relatable. I understand that but as an actor, I wanted to do something different from what I had been doing. So, I passed on those projects. 

People are expecting a lot from Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya's second season. Do you feel any pressure? 

No, absolutely not. We have a dedicated audience that has been waiting and wanting the second season of Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya. It is because of their constant love, support, demand and zidd that the show has returned with the second season. We have done and will do our best. We hope the audience loves the show and becomes a bigger success.    

Rajan Shahi’s Anupamaa and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai are blockbusters. Are you confident Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya 2 will climb up the TRP chart in no time?

I’m definitely sure of it. I have full faith in the story, the franchise, the writers and the production genius that Rajan Shahi is. He is a man with Midas touch and he knows his job. I have tremendously positive feelings. Those who got to know about Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya 2, are really really happy and excited. I have faith in what we are making. The intention is what matters and we intend to create the best of the best. What happens on the TRP front isn’t in our hands, it's with the audience, but we are hopeful. The audience is so smart that they have the ability to recognise what works and what doesn’t.  

Post Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya, you did either limited episodes series or reality shows. What kept you away from daily soaps?

Wanting to do something different from what I did in my previous projects kept me away from the TV. There had come a point that anything and everything TV was offering, I had already done. Whether it was hosting with Savdhaan India, doing reality shows like Khatron Ke Khiladi or an out-of-the-box, niche audience-centric Ek Nayi Ummeed - Roshni, I had done it all. There was nothing new or interesting that was coming to me. So, I decided to take a break and explore other possibilities. I did a lot of ads, one film, short films and of course limited series like The Verdict – State vs Nanavati, Shrikant Bashir and of course my most favourite being Shitty Ideas Trending for YouTube. Those are the kind of things I enjoy also. For me, it is very essential to enjoy what I do and not just for the sake of doing it. Without that, my creative input would be affected and that will not be the best thing for me and the character.    

You’ve done Kedarnath. People differentiate between Bollywood and TV actors. Is the comparison fair? Did you experience any prejudice in films? 

There is bias or titular difference or representation that he/she is a TV actor or a Bollywood actor. But they don't say so deliberately. It is because of the work the actor has done. Certain actors have been only a part of Bollywood and some have focused only on doing TV shows. That is how they are addressed as. It isn’t a comparison, it's just factual.

I have never experienced any bias. Filmmakers and directors want to work with actors who are good at their job and I have experienced this. If they fit the bill, they get the job. If the director is happy with the acting they have done in the audition, they will be selected. I tested being a TV actor, Gattu (Abhishek Kapoor) sir and the team loved what I did and that's why I got the role. Similarly, there are actors like Asha Negi who has done Ludo; Mrunal Thakur is killing it right now. There are so many examples. If you are good at your job, the medium isn’t going to be a barrier.     

As an actress, what are the changes you are noticing in the television industry? 

The working schedule remains the same. It was 12 hours every day even when I did Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya. That's because we need to churn out episodes daily. But, on the other hand, things are more systematic now. It's much more streamlined. Actors do get the rest that they need. It isn’t so much of 'day-night' schedules that are hampering their sleep schedule or their health. Sometimes it happens but it is rare.  

After you announced a breakup with Raj Singh Arora, people tried to spread negativity. Do you think social media users are more interested in actors’ personal lives than their work and talent?

I didn’t feel there was any negativity around it. Whether it is the audience or social media users, everybody understands that actors too are people and they do have personal lives, just like them. Social media users are definitely interested in actors’ personal lives because we are public faces and are in the spotlight all the time. So anything and everything we do, the audience wants to know. If the audience likes a certain actor then they would want to know everything about them.

Having said so, that hasn’t happened to me. Either I have managed to balance my work and personal life and have kept that extremely separate or it has been that my work has spoken. I like to keep it that way. Work speaks for itself. Personal life happens side by side. Work is work and I’ve always wanted to be known by that. I’ve been fortunate that my personal life has never overshadowed my work and talent.